Weeder



Dec. 25, 1934. J L, E. BAUER WEEDER Filed Aug. 21, 1955 Patented Dec. 251934 \This invention is a hand .weedermrmhoeh ln cultivating some-crops;such as: sugar beets,

onions,- andvcther tubersgit' isnecessary to IIWQlk close to the plantsandvthinningzmust beirsdone wlthvthe-fingers. ltiiswtheafpurposeofthepresent invention: to provide'a simplenan'diineit' pensive tool whichmay be fitted to thelhand "l ofithe'operatoriandiappliedidirectly to agrowth to remove the same. The invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features which willbe hereinafter first fully described and then particularly defined inthe appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an edge elevation of a tool embodying theinvention and showing the tool as it appears when in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, Fig.4 is a plan view showing a variation in the form of the tool, l

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another modification. a In carrying outthe present invention there is provided a plate of metal which is bentor folded between its ends, as shown at 1, whereby to produce a blade orcutting portion 2 and a hand portion 3. which are disposed at an acuteangle to each other. The blade portion,'as shown most clearly in Fig. 3,hasits side edges diverging somewhat downwardly so as to provide acutting edge at the lower end which will be of sufficient length to makea cut of appreciable width. The hand portion 3 is to be fitted againstthe palm of the users hand and at one rear corner it is formed with alateral extension 4 which is curved upwardly so as to fit comfortablyabout the base i of, the thumb, as will be understood upon reference toFig. l. The tongue or extension, 4 is provided with an opening 5 nearits end through which is passed a securing strap 6 and at the oppositecorner of the device a smaller tongue 7 is turned upwardly and providedwith an opening 8 to receive a cooperating strap 9 which is to befastened to the strap 6 by a buckle 10 in a wellknown manner, the strapspassing across the back of the users hand so that the tool will be heldfirmly but comfortably in position. In advance of the tongues 4 and '7,cooperating straps 11 and 12 are secured to the side edges of the palmpor-:

tion of the tool and are connected by a buckle 13 at the back of theusers fingers. When the device is in use, the user places his hand overfront face of the blade 2, as clearly shown in Fig l". The base of thethumb =-will rest' on the concave surface stithegtongue 'eand the thiimbwill extendifl advanc or said tongue-at the outer side of thestrap 12iThe strapssahd 9 will be fastened across. the back" of the were handadjacentthewrist while the-straps Ii -and '12 may be fastened across thehand immediately back of the knuckles or may be passed under the indexand second fingers and over the ring and little fingers so that the toolwill be firmly held upon the hand without causing any discomfort to theuser, and leaving the thumb and first and second fingers free to graspand pull plants.

The tool is then operated by pressing the edge of the blade 2 into theground, a slight pressure on the top of the tool causing the blade topenetrate the soil, whereupon aslight pulling or drawing motion. willclean the row to the width of the blade. In the same operation, thethumb and fingers may grasp and remove the surplus plants.

The device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and is very light sothat the user of the tool will not be subjected to any inconvenience ordiscomfort and will be enabled to very rapidly eradicate the undesirablegrowths. Thetongues 4 and 7 are curved so as to provide comfortableseats forthe thumb and the edge of the hand and the bendin the toolbetween the hand and blade portions, thereof is such that the fingerswill be relieved of strain while at the same time they will be enabledto apply the desired pressure to the blade. The device'may, of course,be made for either right-handed or left-handed operators, and it will befound particularly useful in sugar beet fields which have been blockedby a cultivator and in which the worker has been herev tofore obliged towork with his fingers alone.

The blade portion of the tool may be given various forms and in Figs. 2and 3 one edge of the tool is shown with a slight curve at 14 while inFig. 4 the edges of the tool are straight but diverging, as shown at 15.Various means may be employed for securing the tool upon the users handand while l, at present, prefer to employ the spaced straps shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, other fastening. devices may be used such as a widestrap 16, shown in Fig. 4, permanently secured to the tool at one edgeof the same and a mating strap 17 provided with spaced tongues 18 whichare secured at their ends to the opposite edge of the tool. At themeeting edges of the straps 16 and 17 series of hooks 19 are provided InFig. a single strap 21 is secured to one side edge of the tool, while atthe opposite side a strap 22 is secured at the corner which accommodatesthe base of the thumb and a strap 23 is secured at a point nearer thebend of the tool. The straps 22 and 23 meet at and are secured to abuckle 24 which receives the strap 21 at the back ofthe hand.-

Havingthus described the invention, I claim: 1. A weeder comprising aplate having its end portions disposed at an acute angle to fit into thehand of a user, one of saidend portions constituting a blade with whichthe fingers of the hand are engaged, said blade being of substantiallythe aggregate width of the fingers of said hand and having a hoeing edgedisposed trans versely thereof, the other of said end portions being ofsuch shape and width as to be'engaged by the palm of the hand, includingthe base of the thumb, with the thumb disposed at one side of the medialportion of said plate and means for securing-the plate upon the usershand.

2. A weeder comprisnga plate havingits ends disposed at an acute angleand having its medial portion formed intoa curved bend whereby saidplate will fit the hand of a user with the fingers crooked around thebend and bearing against one end portion thereof, said last mentionedend portion extending downwardly from the hand and constituting a blade,said blade terminating in a transverse hoeing edge, the other endportion of said plate being of such shape and width as to underlie thepalm of the hand and means for securing said palm-engaging portion tothe back of said hand.

.3. A weeder comprising a thin plate curved at its medial portiontodispose its ends-at an acute angle, one of said ends constituting adepending blade and the other of said ends constituting a palm-engagingportion whereby said plate will fit the hand of a user with'the fingerscrooked around the curved. portion thereof and bearing against theupperportion of said blade end, said blade portion having a width atleast equal to the aggregate width of the fingers of the hand with theexception of the thumb, said palm-engaging end havinga widened outerportion shaped to snugly fit the palm, including the base of the thumb,means connected with said palm-engaging end for securing said plate tothe back of the hand, said blade having a substantially straight hoeingedge disposed transversely thereof; v

' JOHN L. F. BAUER. [L. s.]

